Senior Legislative Officer

Overview

Job Summary 

EDA Overview

• Join the NJEDA and help lead New Jersey to sustainable economic growth, fostering equitable opportunities and vibrant communities. We offer hybrid work, a supportive culture, and robust benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and extensive wellness programs. Make a tangible impact and shape New Jersey's future with innovative economic development at NJEDA.

Job Overview

• Working within the NJEDA’s Government Affairs team, the Senior Legislative Officer tracks and monitors legislation with direct and indirect impact to the Authority, provides comment on priority legislation, develops, and plans new legislative initiatives, and facilitates communication between the Authority and the New Jersey State Assembly and Senate.
• Tracks and reviews proposed legislation of importance to the Authority and contributes to bill comments prepared by the Legislative & Regulatory Affairs team on proposed legislation that directly or indirectly impacts NJEDA and economic development in New Jersey.
• Acts as liaison to legislative district offices, to convey NJEDA position on legislation and policy. Provides testimony to legislative committees when called upon and attends and reports on relevant legislative hearings.

Responsibilities

Duties

Daily Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Monitors GovNetNJ database to ensure awareness of the terms and status of proposed legislation and adequate response to minimize the effect of adverse legislative activity and to advance legislation that the NJEDA supports.
• Works closely with the Authority’s Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, Managing Director – Policy, Research, and Government Affairs, and Director - Legislative & Regulatory Affairs to develop positions and proposed revisions, as necessary, to bills and legislative initiatives impacting NJEDA and/or economic development in New Jersey.
• Partners the Authority’s Communications, Events, and Marketing teams to develop legislative communications, including but not limited to obtaining quotes from legislators for NJEDA press releases, developing newsletters and mass mailers, and finalizing legislative dashboards of NJEDA program awards per district. Responds to legislators’ inquiries about constituents and NJEDA programs.

Projects:

• Prepares reports for legislative purposes, when required by the legislature or for other governmental entities, by conducting research and coordinating with other divisions, business units, and Executive staff. Handles the drafting, tracking, and annual reporting of all Economic Recovery Fund notices to the New Jersey State Assembly and Senate.
• Assists with the drafting and finalization of NJEDA’s responses to legislative questions during the annual budget process. Coordinates with the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff to draft testimony for Assembly and Senate budget hearings.
• Provides policy recommendations on NJEDA program and initiatives, and tracks policy changes made by State that impact economic development.

 

 

Goals and Objectives:

• Develops legislative communications and outreach strategies that advance NJEDA’s mission and business objectives and enhance key legislative relationships. Communicates with legislators and other elected officials, informing them of NJEDA projects and initiatives milestones via written communications and in-person meetings.

Collaboration and Cross-Divisional Interaction:

• Partners and collaborates with the Authority’s Legislative and Regulatory Affairs team and Communications, Events, and Marketing teams to provide cohesive and consistent advocacy on behalf of EDA.
• Promotes teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative and customer focused work environment among division, EDA staff and external customers.

Reporting Structure:

• The Senior Legislative Officer will report into the Managing Director – Policy, Research, and Government Affairs, or a delegate determined by the Chief of Staff.
• This role is relatively autonomous, with the Senior Legislative Officer spearheading legislative tracking, first draft of legislative comment, and handling all constituent inquiries, subject to approval by the Managing Director - Policy, Research, and Government Affairs and the Chief of Staff.
• Must complete annual self-assessment as required.
• Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned.

Qualifications

Skills and Qualifications

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